For a band that thrive on extremes, it's only logical that there can be no grey area when it comes to liking The Darkness. You either love their cat-suited, over-the-top glam antics, or you hate them for those same reasons. And even with the release of their second album, the cleverly titled One Way Ticket To Hell... And Back, The Darkness are finding that many of their hecklers haven't yet quieted down.

The Strokes, the Darkness and the Super Furry Animals are the first bands set to perform at the One Earth benefit, to be held Jan. 28 at Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, Wales. The event is aimed at raising global awareness of climate change and will be broadcast around the world, with details to be announced.

For most of the working nation, the entertainment at the office Christmas party rarely stretches beyond the consumption of a few chicken tikka mini-bites and some warm pinot grigio to the strains of Black Lace.

But when employees of a Gloucester computer company and their families arrived for their festive bash, the fire-jugglers and fireworks that greeted them on a red carpet should have given a hint that they were in for more than a mobile disco and a platter of cocktail sausages.